Chapter 256.5-2: The Murderous Sword Disciple's Dilemma 2
More days passed after the man arrived in the Southern Central Region within the Old Blue Star Sects Grave.
He stood inside the barrier of the newly established White Star Radiance Alliance, disguised as a member of one of the allied sects. Even if he did not wish to, he could not help but feel intrigued by how many events revolved around White Star Radiance, or rather, around Elton himself as the focal point of everything. At the same time, the image of a certain master surfaced in his mind, turning that intrigue into a trace of pity.
During his observations, he recalled a particular incident in the skies that had marked the beginning of the demonic invasion. A blue entity of horrifying power had appeared alongside a massive blue misty mountain. Merely looking toward that existence had suffocated him, and he instinctively felt that it was somehow connected to his master. That suspicion was confirmed by the appearance of the Bright Brilliant Blade Sect Master, Jinhyuk. Yet another individual he would have preferred never to encounter.
Demons began running rampant from the massive dimensional voids connected to the Pocket Dimension, yet he felt that the situation was not completely dire just yet. With that in mind, he continued posing as a low-ranking expert within the infiltrated sect forces, never displaying power above Gold Tier One.
…
Much more time passed.
An Early Stage Mortal Lord of the Bright Brilliant Blade Sect contacted him in secret under orders from 'Pristine Lord Rukia'. He cursed inwardly, though he was not surprised. That terrifying woman had clearly known of his presence all along. With a resigned sigh, he prepared to listen. Or rather, to endure a string of commands delivered in the form of polite demands. His irritation grew, but defying her was not an option. As far as he knew, very few disciples within the past two centuries had ever been able to do anything about her.
Eventually, the time came to launch the great counter-invasion into the Pocket Dimension. Everything unfolded largely as planned, perhaps even more successfully than expected, though the danger was undeniable. The man observed developments for days while continuing to conceal his true cultivation.
At some point, he began hearing curious rumors about a black dual-sword-wielding devil and a goddess with divine eyes. He grew genuinely interested in the origins of these tales. In time, he severed ties with the sect he had infiltrated, faked his death, and traveled toward the location rumored to be the site of their confrontation.
Upon arriving at a distant vantage point, he sensed the presence of many experts scattered throughout the surroundings, some close, others far. As he observed, shock and doubt took hold of him. The battlefield was a grotesque mess with multiple factions involved, yet something about it felt deeply wrong. He could not pinpoint the reason.
One thing, however, was certain. The four-armed Devil was an incredibly powerful existence. Yet there was a disturbing incongruity. He sensed the aura of a Peak Gold Tier expert, one whose power touched the peak of the Early Stage Mortal Lord realm. At the same time, buried faintly within that same devilish presence, he sensed another power reaching the Late Stage Mortal Lord realm or possibly higher. It was subtle and profoundly strange.
And there was more.
Goosebumps rose across his body as he faintly detected two unfamiliar auras interwoven within the warped spatial remnants where the Late Stage Mortal Lord version of the Black Devil had once stood.
"W-What? What exactly is this?" he muttered in disbelief. "Did they fight within a special domain? Such a domain, and I cannot see through it. Wait… could it be the rumored Divine Eyed Goddess? That seems possible, but then who was the third person?"
His thoughts spiraled, unable to reach a conclusion.
After lingering far longer than he intended, he finally departed, heading in a specific direction.
…
Several months later.
The man once again adopted a disguise, this time as a Gold Tier Two expert among one of the factions from Desert Red Star. From this stronghold, he was able to keep watch over the White Star Radiance Sect and its alliance. It appeared that the powers behind this particular faction had grown interested in the sudden rise of this mysterious force.
From time to time, he slipped away from the troops he was assigned to. In secret, he explored, spied, and slaughtered enemies among demons, Natives, and any others deemed adversaries of the Bright Brilliant Blade Sect. He occasionally encountered other powerful figures doing the same. When they proved hostile, blades inevitably crossed. Few were truly his equal, though many were strong enough to escape.
As months passed, suspicion began to form among those within the allied force. Some questioned his identity openly, eventually expelling him and preparing to strike. Annoyed, he simply walked away, spitting in irritation while suppressing the murderous aura threatening to burst forth.
At that moment, a massive explosion shook the region as an enormous army of demons, demonic cultivators, and collaborators aligned with the demonic alliance appeared. They arrived with such speed and overwhelming power that countless experts were caught completely off guard.
The base descended into chaos. Over time, it nearly collapsed entirely before the demonic alliance abruptly withdrew to avoid prolonged combat and unnecessary losses. The man had initially remained behind, slaughtering enemies to aid the allied forces before making his escape. In truth, he was one of the main reasons so many survived the onslaught and why the demons chose to retreat so quickly.
As he fled, his expression darkened and he traveled toward a specific destination.
…
A week passed.
He carved a bloody path through demons on one front and Natives on another, pursued relentlessly by powerful experts from both sides. He cursed furiously as his killing intent warped the surrounding space.
"Seriously, what were the chances that the demonic alliance would once again attack that exact allied force that I was sneaking into? Will you bastards leave me alone already? I do not have the time or patience for this!" he shouted.
Eventually, the pursuers abandoned the chase, recognizing that dealing with him was an unnecessary and dangerous burden given the broader conflict.
Another week later.
The man arrived at one of the demonic alliance's massive main bases, poorly guarded due to the absence of much of its force. A huge army from Desert Red Star arrived shortly after.
"You damned demons. May you die a thousand deaths!" he roared as he fully unleashed his murderous aura. His sword strikes obliterated fortifications, walls, and defensive structures in a storm of sword ki. He charged headlong into the panicking demons, his overwhelming presence galvanizing the allied forces behind him.
This event would later be remembered as one of the three great massacres involving fortified strongholds. The other two were inflicted upon the Natives, who suffered devastating losses.
Midway through his blood-soaked frenzy, clarity suddenly returned.
"Damnit, I have to leave. Ah, and I need to head back to the White Star Radiance Alliance base. Just in case something like this happens there."
With that decision made, he vanished from the battlefield.
…
By the time the man arrived, several days had already passed and the all-out war was well underway. He happened to arrive alongside multiple waves of reinforcements. A brief shiver ran through him when he sensed the aura of a certain Senior Sister who had clearly broken through into the Aetherial Soul Tier. When he shifted his gaze in another direction, he spotted a familiar Senior Brother wielding three treasured swords, his face wearing its usual irritated and weary expression.
"Eh… I suppose I will go assist Senior Brother Shikakage," the man muttered thoughtfully before speeding off toward him, a fierce killing aura trailing behind.
Shikakage, who had just received fresh reinforcements while the demonic alliance brought in their own, glanced over with sharp eyes. Confusion briefly crossed his face.
"More reinforcements? Whatever. Help me dispose of these demons," Shikakage said irritably.
"Yes, Senior Brother Shikakage. Say… you do remember who I am, right?" the man asked confidently, his murderous aura leaking slightly before hesitation crept into his voice.
"Huh? Do I know you? I do not recall ever seeing you before," Shikakage replied with a raised brow.
The man stared at him in disbelief, his mouth hanging open. "W-What?! That cannot be right! Senior Brother Shikakage, how can you say that after the brutal treatment you put me through all those years ago in the name of training?!"
"Did something like that happen?" Shikakage mused casually. "There was a time when Master forced me to help 'train up disciples.' I might have been rough back then. Either way, you are strong now, correct? They are attacking."
The man ground his teeth as his murderous aura erupted. His power surged to the peak of the Middle Stage Mortal Lord realm, crashing outward with suffocating pressure. Beneath that display, his true strength barely brushed the threshold of a Late Stage Mortal Lord.
"I will make you remember through the slaughter of these damned demons!" he roared.
Not long after, a strange sensation rippled through the battlefield, as though a mighty presence had suddenly emerged. He glanced skyward and saw the massive mirage shrouded in white lightning and flames. Someone nearby mentioned that it was a projection of Sect Master Solman, yet something about it felt unsettling. Earlier, he had dismissed the feeling, but now the oppressive aura emanating from it demanded his attention.
Even so, he continued fighting alongside his comrades, his killing intent burning fiercely.
Before long, he faintly sensed a certain Senior Sister roaring in irritation high above the battlefield. Immense and razor-sharp magical power erupted from her as dimensional cracks formed in the sky, subtly rejecting her presence.
Even amid reinforcements pouring in from both sides, she stood out as a terrifying existence. The man silently renewed his vow to stay as far away from her as possible whenever he could.